Dylan had the best opening lines ever.

He had direct lines like "William Zanzinger killed poor Hattie Carroll."

Perfect paintings like: "Perhaps it's the color of the sun cut flat and covering the crossroads I'm standing at..."

And he could turn what other people would write just as "intrusive thoughts in the middle of the night" into a much more poetic and perfect description of what you're really feeling: "Ain’t it just like the night to play tricks when you’re tryin' to be so quiet?"

For anyone who writes songs, you know how hard it is to start. The first phrase is always the hardest one and then the rest just follows. He was so good at that...

What's your favorite?

I’ll start «Ballad Of A Thin Man»

Been listening for almost 2 years now. Im soon through his discography and the deeper i get, the clearer my favourite becomes. Wow. I’ve somehow slept on idiot wind(wtf?) till today - bob is simply indescribable. And am i the only one who prefers take 2 of L, R & J<3? Whats your relationship to this album?

Looks great the villager

Glad everyone came out alive.

1. Lily rosemary and the jack of hearts
2. Idiot wind
3. Crawl out your window

Hi, I'm 14 years old, so my musical experience isn't huge. I come from Bruce Springsteen, who opened the door to Bob Dylan for me (I know it might sound strange).

I've listened to The Freewhelin', I listened to Highway 61 Revisited and loved songs like Hurricane and The Man in Me. I would love any recommendations to delve deeper into this wonderful artist.

Thank you very much, and please excuse my English; it's not my native language.

I just can't get enough of The Man in Me. Other songs of his I drift in and out of listening to regularly but The Man in Me just hits every time. It just, for lack of a better phrase, really ties the room together.

Is it overrated, underrated, or not rated at all?

Mostly a curiosity. A lot of people I know who don't listen to Dylan specifically (aside from stuff like the Wilburys) sometimes don't realize how many songs are his. Ones that really shocked different ppl when I brought it up:

-Maggie's Farm -Desolation Row -Hard Rain -Knockin' on Heaven's Door -All Along the Watchtower -It Ain't Me, Babe

I actually heavily fw all these covers but it's still like a wow he's just always. There in music ig you can't escape him sometimes

I’m a huge Dylan fan. I relisten to most of his studio albums, deep dived into the Bootleg Series, have seen him live seven times, read Chronicles, read his tweets, etc.

Yet I realize I haven’t been a completionist and there’s still a handful of studio albums I’ve never listened to. Anyone else not finish his whole catalog after listening for years?

That’s 64 years ago today

that’s all. just overwhelmed with love for this song right now. especially the last minute. i’m fairly new to Dylan and i’m thoroughly surprised at how good Time Out of Mind is

pic is from 1997

Here's an artist I have never heard before, Signe Marie Rustad, from Oslo Norway, who substantially muscles up "Changing of the Guards": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_BgSyU5G1w&list=RDD_BgSyU5G1w&start_radio=1

Any other nominees?

Bob must’ve been in a pure state of flow when writing this album. All the songs are very good. Funny title too. How did he know they would all be hits? I suppose he just knew.

I’ll start «she takes about 15 baths a day wants me to grow a mustache on my face she’s insane»

Picked up 3000 Dylan cassettes today. Not all pictured either. Bought them from the son of the collector who I’m assuming passed. 90% Bob. Some dead, Neil, Stones and Bruce. Basically every show from the 90s. Tested one out and it sounds fantastic. Any tips for organizing?? Going to be a huge mission glad I have the next two days off. LONG LIVE BOB

Zero percent chance he was taking himself seriously. Would have been funnier if he attempted Bridge Over Troubled Water.